How did it happen and what or who caused the disaster?
The Bhopal disaster in Indplant that was owned by union Carbride. It killed up to 20,000 people and 120,000 people became ill.
No one knows for certain how it happened but there were contributing factors to it:
- The use of hazardous chemicals (MIC) instead of less dangerous ones
- Storing chemicals in large tanks instead of smaller ones
- Poor maintenance of the plant
- Understaffed
There were theories to how it happened such as:
In November 1984, most of the safety systems were not working properly. Most valves and lines were in poor condition. Tank 610 contained 42 tones MIC, much more than allowed according to the safety rules. During the night 2-3 December, large amounts of water entered tank 610. A reaction began, which was accelerated by contaminants also high temperatures and other factors. The reactions made a major increase in the temperatures inside the tank to over 200c. This forced the emergency venting of pressure from the MIC holding tank; it released a lot of toxic gases. The reaction was sped up by the presence of iron corroding non-stainless steel pipelines.
Timeline of how it happened
At the plant
21.00 Water cleaning of pipes starts.
22.00 Water enters tank 610, reaction starts.
22.30 Gases are emitted from the vent gas scrubber tower.
00.30 The large siren sounds and is turned off.
00.50 The siren is heard within the plant area. The workers escape.
Outside
22.30 First sensations due to the gases are felt — suffocation, cough, burning eyes and vomiting.
1.00 Police are alerted. Residents of the area evacuate. Union Carbide director denies any leak.
2.00 The first people reached Hamidia hospital. Symptoms include visual impairment and blindness, respiratory difficulties, frothing at the mouth, and vomiting.
2.10 The alarm is heard outside the plant.
4.00 The gases are brought under control.
6.00 A police loudspeaker broadcasts: "Everything is normal". Pollute
in, 1984 was the world’s worst chemical disaster. Toxic gases leaked from poorly maintained and understaffed
BHOPAL DISASTER
How did it happen and what or who caused the disaster?
The Bhopal disaster in Indplant that was owned by union Carbride. It killed up to 20,000 people and 120,000 people became ill.
No one knows for certain how it happened but there were contributing factors to it:
- The use of hazardous chemicals (MIC) instead of less dangerous ones
- Storing chemicals in large tanks instead of smaller ones
- Poor maintenance of the plant
- Understaffed
There were theories to how it happened such as:
In November 1984, most of the safety systems were not working properly. Most valves and lines were in poor condition. Tank 610 contained 42 tones MIC, much more than allowed according to the safety rules. During the night 2-3 December, large amounts of water entered tank 610. A reaction began, which was accelerated by contaminants also high temperatures and other factors. The reactions made a major increase in the temperatures inside the tank to over 200c. This forced the emergency venting of pressure from the MIC holding tank; it released a lot of toxic gases. The reaction was sped up by the presence of iron corroding non-stainless steel pipelines.
Timeline of how it happened
At the plant
21.00 Water cleaning of pipes starts.
22.00 Water enters tank 610, reaction starts.
22.30 Gases are emitted from the vent gas scrubber tower.
00.30 The large siren sounds and is turned off.
00.50 The siren is heard within the plant area. The workers escape.
Outside
22.30 First sensations due to the gases are felt — suffocation, cough, burning eyes and vomiting.
1.00 Police are alerted. Residents of the area evacuate. Union Carbide director denies any leak.
2.00 The first people reached Hamidia hospital. Symptoms include visual impairment and blindness, respiratory difficulties, frothing at the mouth, and vomiting.
2.10 The alarm is heard outside the plant.
4.00 The gases are brought under control.
6.00 A police loudspeaker broadcasts: "Everything is normal". Pollute
in, 1984 was the world’s worst chemical disaster. Toxic gases leaked from poorly maintained and understaffed